Kris Humphries on free agency, future with Celtics: 'I hope to be back'

Kris Humphries on free agency, future with Celtics: 'I hope to be back'

Kris Humphries has been one of a few pleasant surprises for the Celtics this season. Credit: Getty Images

Raise your hand if you weren't a Kris Humphries fan prior to the 2013-14 season.

Now, keep it raised if you're now a fan ...

You may now put your hand down.

You're not alone, either. Humphries had a bad rap heading into his first season in Boston. Between the whole Kim Kardashian marriage thing, and then the Rajon Rondo wrestling thing, he wasn't exactly a C's fan's dream - especially when you consider he came back in a deal for Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett.

But it didn't take long to see that Humphries wasn't the guy he was perceived to be. He was pretty much the opposite, in fact. And just as much as you enjoyed his time here in Boston, he did too. But Humphries' contract is now up here in Boston.

Metro Boston caught up with Humphries on his way out the door Wednesday night after the Celtics' 118-102 season-ending loss to the Wizards. He was asked if this was his last game in the Garden as a member of the Celtics.

"I don't know ... you don't know. I hope to be back," Humphries said.

From the start of training camp all the way to the 82nd game of the season, Humphries has exemplified the prototypical teammate. He came into camp in great spirits, kept a positive attitude early in the season when his minutes were almost nonexistent, and stepped up when he finally got his chance.

If that isn't what you want in a teammate, then you've never been on a team.

Humphries finished the season averaging 8.4 points and 5.9 rebounds in 69 games (30 starts), his impact in some of those games being far greater than the averages show. But now his $12,000,000 is officially off the books - music to Celtics GM Danny Ainge's ears.

While Ainge undoubtedly originally wanted Humphries because of his expiring contract, that isn't to say he doesn't want him back on a new contract for the right price. Boston currently has a plethora of power forwards on the roster. Jared Sullinger and Kelly Olynyk can both play - they've proved that much. Whether or not it's on this team or another (due to potential trades) is the question. Brandon Bass also has a year left on his contract, but he becomes a very tradable asset over the offseason.

Humphries and Ainge have discussed his possible future with the team, but it's just too soon to tell which direction the team is going in.

"We had good feelings towards each other and all that, it's just we'll see what happens," Humphries said of the "vibe" with Ainge. "You don't know what's going to happen [with] the draft and all that stuff. So you never know."

After getting over the shock of being traded, Humphries grew fond of the city and his team.